is sleeping where there is a back bolier illegal? i am being told this is not true.?

Question

i am being told that i can sleep in my living area where there is a back bolier. i am aware that i could have a slow death if i sleep here. i have been told this by my gas service engineer. i have just one bedroom whom i share with my 13 year old daughter, i have asked my council for a bigger place but they suggest i sleep in the living area where the back boiler is. please send me your advice. many thanks

Answer 1

There's a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if you stay around a gas burning stove - or boiler. You don't smell carbon monoxide, you don't see it, but it's deadly. It's not a "slow death" though, it can happen quite fast.

You should keep your boiler cleaned and checked by a professional at least every year; always keep a window open (this minimizes the risk a great deal), and look for an apartment where you and your kid don't have to worry about this anymore.

Answer 2

Get a carbon monoxide alarm for the living room; it will detect trace amounts of carbon monoxide. Keep your boiler serviced regularly.
Honestly, if there is a problem with the boiler and carbon monoxide escapes, then it won't really matter which part of the house you are sleeping in. It may affect you less, the further away you are, but it still can kill you. Where I used to live, at least one or two families would die every winter from a faulty gas heater. The important thing is to have a carbon monoxide alarm that will alert you if there is a leak.